Portable safe

ABSTRACT

A depository for the storage and/or transport of negotiable papers, including currency, is disclosed, which includes a means for punching at least one hole through the papers by an electrically activated punch in the event the container for the paper is forced open by a thief.

United States Patent Schesso [is] 3,654,880 [451 Apr. 11, 1972 PORTABLESAFE [72] Inventor: Leroy R. Schesso, 821 Minnesota Avenue,

St. Paul, Minn. 55102 [22] Filed: Nov. 10, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 88,326

521 [1.5.0 ..109/25 511 mu ..E05g3/00 [58] FieldofSearch..l09/25,32,33,36,37,43

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 784,805 3/1905 Peterson109/25 2,035,498 3/1936 Navisetal. ..109/25 3,053,416 9/1962 Hamer..109/32 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 885,245 12/1961 Great Britain..109/25 Primary ExaminerReinaldo P. Machado Attorney-Schroeder,Siegfried & Ryan [5 7] ABSTRACT A depository for the storage and/ortransport of negotiable papers, including currency, is disclosed, whichincludes a means for punching at least one hole through the papers by anelectrically activated punch in the event the container for the paper isforced open by a thief.

7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PORTABLESAFE My invention is directed to theproblem of the safe storage and transportation of valuable papers suchas currency. The increasing crime rate has made the storage andtransport of monies by small businesses and private individuals a highrisk proposition'Through the use of my invention, the transport orstorage of monies is made under a condition wherein the profit to thepotential thief is removed, and therefore the risk of theft is markedlydecreased.

Briefly, my invention relates to a storage container for money whichincludes a means for producing punctures through the monies in the eventthe container is forced open or otherwise tampered with by a thief. Thepunched money is readily identified as having been improperly obtained,and therefore the thief is unable to realize a profit from his actions.If the money is accidentally mutilated, the person having the legalright to the money can have it converted to good currency by bringing itto a federal reserve bank.

My invention-is equally applicable to the storage of money in safeswhich are relatively immovable, as well as in briefcaselike carryingcontainers for the transporting of money from a place of business to abank. It is with regard to this latter idea that my invention will bedescribed in detail. It should be appreciated that essentially all ofthe remarks which follow are equally applicable to either a portable orto a relatively stationary depository for currency and other valuablepapers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of abriefcase for carrying currency in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially cross-sectional view and a partially schematiccircuit view of the briefcase of FIG. 1.

In FIG. 1 there is illustrated a carrying case for currency which takesthe form of a briefcase generally identified 20. Case includes a lowerbox-like member 21 and an upper lid or closure member 22. The lowerbox-like member 21 has been subdivided into a number of compartments ofa size such as to readily receive currency in the form of paper money.Also illustrated is a compartment containing checks. The upper lidmember 22 contains a plurality of elements identified 1 through 11,which are superimposed when the case is closed over the individualcompartments of the lower member 21. These superimposed members includecircular punch elements 29 and are illustrated as having two of thesepunch members in superimposable relationship to the compartments of thelower chamber.

The construction of the case 20 is best seen in sectional view in FIG.2. In the figure there is illustrated a construction in accordance withthe invention showing the case in closed position. An interior formedmetal member 24 of the upper lid member and a lower formed metal member25 of the lower member when the case is closed form a continuouselectrical conductor. Surrounding members 24 and 25 are formed members26 and 27, which may also be of a metallic material. An outer decorativecoating 42 covers the case. Desirably, it would be marked to identifythe fact that theft of the case would destroy the contents value.lnterspaced between members 24 and 26 and 25 and 27 is an array ofinsulated wires 28 which completely surround the case. Wires 28 are inelectrical isolation from members 24 through 27 under normal conditions.Should any forced entry be attempted into the case, the insulation thatis provided on these wires is of such a thin nature that an electricalcontact will be brought about between the wires and the case by suchforced entry. The purpose of such electrical contact will be describedwith regard to the circuit portion ofFIG. 2.

Also located in the upper portion 22 is the punch member identified 29.This may take the form of a cartridge 23 having a projectile forwardportion 29. The cartridge is mounted within its chamber so as to hemelectrical contact with members 24 and 25. A second electrical contactis provided via lead 30. Lead 30 acts in cooperation with electricalcontact member 24 to complete a cartridge ignition means. This may be asimple resistance wire which becomes heated to a point capable ofigniting a powder charge within cartridge member 23 when an electricalcurrent is passed therethrough. Upon the ignition of this charge,projectile 29 is discharged from the cartridge and penetrates throughthe stack of currency identified 31 within the lower compartment. Areinforcing member 32 is provided in back of the currency both to act asa punch receiving compartment and to stop the motion of the projectile29. In passing through currency 31, projectile 29 provides a holetherethrough. As illustrated in the figures, two such holes areprovided--one at each end of the currency. Such holes will provide apositive identification of the fact that the currency had beenimproperly obtained. In the event of inadvertent triggering of thepunches or upon a restoration of money that had been punched back to itsrightful owner, the punching will not provide such a defacing of thecurrency as to prevent its exchange at a federal reserve bank forunmutilated money. The punch 29 may have a variety of shapes to give acode for identification of the source of money that has been punched.

The power for bringing about triggering of punch member 23 is providedby a battery 33, which is contained within the compartment generallyidentified 34 in FIG. 1. The battery would desirably be of therechargeable type and would be recharged in situ by means of cord 35,which also performs a second function in one modification of myinvention.

A switch means 36 is provided which serves to electrically disconnectthe battery from the system to prevent inadvertent triggering when thecase is in an open position. The switch 36 is desirably of a type thatis electrically actuated. In the form illustrated, the switch iscontrolled by means of an electromagnet 37 powered by cord 35. Theswitch is preferably one which is coupled to a magnetic latchingarrangement so that upon closing of the lid of the case electricalcontact is provided and a locking mechanism simultaneously is activated.The switch and locking mechanism would both remain closed until properlyreleased.

In actual use, the person who wished to convey money would place itwithin the various compartments of the case and upon closing the casewould close switch 36, thereby activating the system against possibletheft by breaking into the case. A key-type lock 38 is provided in theface of the case which mechanically locks the case and also would closethe access to an electrical connection contained within opening 39. Evenif the thief should succeed in opening the lock 38, he still would notbe able to open the case because the switch means 36 would be coupled toan electromechanical locking means such as a solenoid that would only bereleased if the proper input signal was placed through coder 40. Coder40 could take a variety of forms, such as an electronic counter thatwould only actuate a circuit to operate electromagnet 37 if the properinput signal was provided. Unless the proper input signal was provided,the switch 36 would not be opened and the electromechanical lockingmeans, plus the activation of the circuit, would not be released topermit the opening of the case.

As an additional safeguard against possible theft of the case andopening thereof without triggering punch members 23, I contemplate theenclosing of a timer switch 41 within the case. Such a timer switchwould be set by the person intending to deliver currency to a place ofsafe keeping such as a bank. The timer switch would be activated at thetime delivery was started and, if the case were not properly openedwithin the time set, the timer would close the circuit between lead 30and member 24 to activate the punch members. This would limit the amountof time that a thief would have to gain access to the case. Thus, evenif the thief were successful in evading the locking mechanism, he wouldhave to do this within a relatively short period of time or the timerwould automatically deface the currency therewithin.

Various modifications of my invention can be made. For example, in thelower half of the case in FIG. 1, there is a series of button membersidentified 1 through 11 which correspond to the numbers 1 through 11identified in the upper portion as being punch members. If only aportion of the compartments were filled, it would only be necessary toactivate those punches which were in cooperating relationship with thefilled compartments. This could readily be obtained through appropriatewiring. Rather than relying upon the conduction obtained throughphysical contact of the upper and lower compartments, one may also makeuse of the male and female electrical plus members 43 and 44 to providethe electrical contact between the upper and lower case members. Othervariations within the scope of my invention will suggest themselves tothe reader.

I claim: 1. A depository for storage and transport of valuable papersincluding currency, comprising:

a. a box member including a closure member therefor, the wall portionsof said members including first and second electrical conductorsseparated by an insulator, said conductors constructed and arranged sothat a penetration of said walls will provide electrical connectiontherebetween;

b. means for locking said members in closed relationship;

c. means for positioning valuable papers in stacked configuration withinsaid box;

d. battery means within said box and electrically connectable from oneside thereof to one of said conductors; and

e. electrically actuated punch means positionable over and interior ofthe edge of said papers, saidpunch means including means forelectrically connecting said punch to the other of said conductors andmeans for electrically connecting said punch to one side of said batteryso that a forced opening of the box will complete the electrical circuitdefined by said conductors, said punch means and said battery therebyactivating said punch to deface said papers.

2. A depository in accordance with claim 1 wherein said locking meansincludes a switch means which is connected between said battery and atleast one of said electrical conductors.

3. A depository in accordance with claim 1 wherein said positioningmeans for said papers is a compartment.

4. A depository in accordance with claim 1 wherein said punch is drivenby a chemical mixture ignited by passage of electrical current throughsaid electrical connecting means.

5. A depository in accordance with claim 1 wherein a plurality ofpunches are positioned over each valuable paper.

6. A depository inaccordance with claim 1 wherein said first conductoris a sheet of metal and said second conductor is an insulated wirearranged in a pattern over the surface of said first conductor.

7. A depository in accordance with claim 1 wherein a time switch isconnected between said first and second conductors.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION April ll, 1972Patent No. 3 654, 880 Dated Inventor(s) LeRoy R. Schesso It is certifiedthat error appears inthe above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Title page showing inventor's address:

delete "Minnesota Avenue" insert Watson Signed and sealedthis 1st day ofAugust'l972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.F'LETCHI1;R,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting OfficerCommissioner of Patents USCOMM-DC 50376-P59 U.S4 GOVERNMENT PRINTINGOFFICE: I969 0-366-334 F ORM PO-IOSO (10-69)

1. A depository for storage and transport of valuable papers includingcurrency, comprising: a. a box member including a closure membertherefor, the wall portions of said members including first and secondelectrical conductors separated by an insulator, said conductorsconstructed and arranged so that a penetration of said walls willprovide electrical connection therebetween; b. means for locking saidmembers in closed relationship; c. means for positioning valuable papersin stacked configuration within said box; d. battery means within saidbox and electrically connectable from one side thereof to one of saidconductors; and e. electrically actuated punch means positionable overand interior of the edge of said papers, said punch means includingmeans for electrically connecting said punch to the other of saidconductors and means for electrically connecting said punch to one sideof said battery so that a forced opening of the box will complete theelectrical circuit defined by said conductors, said punch means and saidbattery thereby activating said punch to deface said papers.
 2. Adepository in accordance with claim 1 wherein said locking meansincludes a switch means which is connected between said battery and atleast one of said electrical conductors.
 3. A depository in accordancewith claim 1 wherein said positioning means for said papers is acompartment.
 4. A depository in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidpunch is driven by a chemical mixture ignited by passage of electricalcurrent through said electrical connecting means.
 5. A depository inaccordance with claim 1 wherein a plurality of punches are positionedover each valuable paper.
 6. A depository in accordance with claim 1wherein said first conductor is a sheet of metal and said secondconductor is an insulated wire arranged in a pattern over the surface ofsaid first conductor.
 7. A depository in accordance with claim 1 whereina time switch is connected between said first and second conductors.